Window shade



Dec.' 13, 1938. w, B. GALLEY WINDOW SHADE Filed Oct. 2l, V19255ATTORNEY.

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Patented Dec. 13, 1938 ,UNETED STATS PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to shades for windows comprising a plurality ofstrips or splints adapted by their relative association and movement toobstruct the passage of light therethrough.

Shades of the Venetian or folding-split type have heretofore beeninapplicable for use on small windows, principally because of theapparatus and rigging necessary for their operation, which isexcessively expensive in consideration of .the advantages derivedtherefrom, and often detracts from the appearance o-f an otherwisewellappointed room. Diiiiculties in operation resulting from numerousropes, pulleys and the like, or loose association of the parts havefurther militated against their universal application.

A general object of the present invention is to avoid the difficultiesof the prior art by the provision of a window blind comprising aplurality of splints having their edges associated to form acompre'ssible plait, in which the extension of the plait is determinedb-y the vertical position of a manually vertically-adjustable bottomsplint.

A specific object hereof is to provide a pair of guide wires or rodssecured relative to the window so as to determine the alignment with thewindow of all of a plurality of splints comprising a blind and preventdisplacement of the same by wind or other force tending to fracture thesplints, or mar the iinish or painted surface of the adjacent windowframe.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a blind embodying africtional clamping means adjacent a lower bar adapted to maintain theblind in any adjusted position.

Still another object is to provide a device embodying compactness,economy of manufacture, ease ofoperation, installation and removal, aswell as simplicity in construction and appearance, which facilitates itsdesign and ornamentation 40 for conformance to specific architecturalthemes.

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of my invention operatively installed overthe inside of a window frame.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View on` line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

3 is a section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a View on line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numerals of whichdesignate similar parts throughout the several views, 5 indicates aplurality of splints, preferably of wood, although metal or othermaterials may be used in specific embodiments. The opposite longitudinaledges of splints 5 are secured together by means of a cord 6, the endsof which extend upwardly around the lowermost splint near one endthereof, and

are oppositely interlaced with the upper splints forming'the body of theblind, that is to say, the opposite ends of the cord are crossed aboveeach splint and travel upwardly on opposite sides of the splints so asto maintain the edges of the splints together. The ends of the cord 6are secured adjacent the top splint 5a by means hereinafter described. Asecond cord I is similarly woven near the opposite ends of the splints.The flexibility of the cords 6 and 'I effects a hinge between thesplints, forming by relative'angular movement therebetween a variableaccordion plait.

The uppermost splint 5a is reinforced by strips 8 fastened to oppositesides ofthe splint by nails, screws, or the like, thus securing theupper ends of cords 6 and 1. The top bar 9 of the shade, comprisingsplint 5a and strips 8 is secured rigidly tothe top rail II! of a windowframe by screws II. The bottom splint 5b is also reinforced by strips I2attached by amr well known means, such as by nails, to opposite sidesthereof.

A pair of rods or wires I3 having their upper ends clamped betweenstrips 8 and splint 5a protrude from the top of bar 9 and thence extenddownwardly on the outside thereof. Each strip, except those in the upperand lower bars, is provided with a hole I4 near each of its ends throughwhich rods or wires I3 are threaded. A pair of studs I5 mounted inrespective brackets I6 are secured by screws I1, or the like, to thebottom of opposite jambs I8 of the window frame. The lower ends of wiresI3 extend through holes I9 provided in respective studs I5 and invertical alignment with the point in bar 9 at which the wires arefastened. The wires I3, drawn taut between bar 9 and their respectivestuds I5, are prevented from loosening or being withdrawn from holes I9by having their ends wound around the stud and inserted in a second hole20 provided in the studs I5 adjacent each of holes I9, as illustratedclearly in Fig. 4. Each splint is thus slidable on wires I3. Due to thetautness of the wires, the minimum angle which the splints will assumerelative to the vertical is determined by the size of the holes I4 inthe splints which engage with wires I5 when the splints are stretchedthereon.

By employing an uneven number of splints the upper and lower bars may bedisposed on opposite sides of wires I3, as illustrated. Thus with theupper bar secured to the top rail I0 of the window frame, inside ofwires I3 as above noted, the lower bar comprised of strips I2 and splint5bk will be located on the outside of the outside of the Wires, for apurpose about to be described: A pair of U-shaped clamps 2l to associatethe lower bar with the wires, are secured at the back of the lower bar,one adjacent each wire, by a screw 22. Each clamp is arranged with itstwo parallel portions 23 and 24 perpendicular to its respective wire I3which extends therebetween. The friction of the clamps on the Wire isregulated by means of a screw-headed stove bolt 25 which extends fromthe outside of the lower bar through the bar and a hole 26 in theadjacent portion 23 of the clamp, being tapped into the opposite portion24. The rotation of the bolts 25 regulates the relative proximity of theportions 23 and 24 of each clamp which grip the wire and offset theforce of gravity on the lower bar and the splints supported thereon.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a blind in which a' pluralityof splints relatively hinged by means of cords have incorporatedtherewith wires or rods adapted to perform a double function, i. e., ofsustaining the splints so associated in a variable accordion plait; andto further maintain the blind in rigid alignment with the window. Thefrictional contact of the clamp 2| with the Wires, being only greatenough to support the weight of the splints, is easily offset by manualmovement of the lower bar to thus easily and quickly lower the shadeover the window to the position desired, where it will be retained.

While I have illustratedand described but one embodiment of myinvention, it will be obvious to those of skill in this art that wiresI3 may be substituted by tubing or rods of any material embodyingsuihcient inherent rigidity to resist the frictional wear of theclamping member; and that various other changes may be made, as, forinstance, in the number of the cords and wires,

in the relative arrangement of the Wires with rev spect to the ends orsides of the splints, in the means for securing the ends of the cordsand wires, as well as in the design, proportion, number orv arrangementof any of the parts hereof, without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

Having described my invention, I claim:

l. In a window shade, a plurality of splints having their longitudinaledgesvhinged together to forman accordion plait, each of said splintshavinga hole therein, a guide secured perpendicularly to thelongitudinal axis of vone of said splints extending through holes in theoth-er of said splints, and clamping means secured to one of saidsplints to frictionally engage said guide.

2. A window shade comprising a plurality of relatively hinged splints, aguide secured to one of said splints to maintain the remaining splintsin alignment therewith, and clamping means secured to one of saidsplints to frictionally engage said guide.

3. In a window shade, a pluralityof splints each having a hole therein,cords interlaced with said splints to maintain longitudinal edges ofsaid splints relatively adjacent, a bar secured parallel to thelongitudinal axis of one of said splints, a guide securedperpendicularly to said bar and extending through holes in said splints,and clamping means secured to one of said splints to frictionally engagesaid guide.

ll. In a window shade, a bar adapted to be suppored by a plurality ofsplints, a strip of resilient material bent to form a U-shaped clampingmember, means tolsecure said clamping member to` said bar, and means toregulate the relative proximity of the sidesrof said member.

5. In a window shade, a plurality of splints each having a hole therein,cords interlaced with said splints so as to hinge the longitudinal edgesof said splints together, forming an accordion plait, bars secured toeach end of said plaited splints, a guide perpendicularly securedlrelative to one of said bars and extending through a hole in eachsplint, and an adjustable clamp secured to the other of said bars tofrictionally engage the guide.

6. In a window shade, a plurality of splints each having a hole therein,cords `interlaced with said splints so as to hinge the longitudinaledges of said splints together, forming an accordion plait, bars securedto each end of said plaited splints, a guide perpendicularly securedrelative to one of said bars and extending through a hole in eachsplint, a strip of resilient material bent to form a U-shaped clampingmember, means to secure said clamping member to said bar, and means toregulate the relative proximity of the sides of said member.

WILLIAM B. GALLEY.

